“Untangling History: African Interpreters in 16th-Century England and Modern Nationalism”

The English language learned by a group of African people brought to Britain in 1555 to act as interpreters for English traders has nothing to do with modern concepts of US/British/white nationalism.

The individuals you are referring to, known as the “Blackamoores,” were Africans who were brought to England in the 16th century during the Tudor period. They served as interpreters and were part of the broader interactions between England and other nations during the Age of Exploration and the burgeoning global trade networks of that time. This was centuries before the emergence of modern nationalism as we understand it today.

Modern concepts of nationalism, particularly in the context of the United States and Britain, developed much later, primarily in the 18th and 19th centuries. These concepts of nationalism were shaped by various factors, including political, economic, and social developments, and they were often tied to ideas of identity, territory, and governance.

In summary, the presence of African interpreters in 16th-century England does not have a direct connection to modern concepts of US/British/white nationalism, as these ideologies and movements arose in different historical contexts and for different reasons. It’s important to understand historical events and developments within their specific historical contexts and not conflate them with later phenomena.